In a video taken by Linda Beltran and posted on YouTube just a month ago, Mateo proves his future debate abilities as he questions his mom's reasonings for not allowing him to have a cupcake.

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By Sarah Sanders Petersen

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Sarah Sanders Petersen

Posted Mar. 13, 2014 at 8:52 PM

By Sarah Sanders Petersen

Posted Mar. 13, 2014 at 8:52 PM

» Social News

Linda and Kenneth Beltran don't usually let their children call them by their first names. In fact, most of the time they are referred to as Mom and Dad. But ever since 3-year-old Mateo was taught his parents' names for safety reasons, he's learned when he should use the personal touch.
In a video taken by Linda Beltran and posted on YouTube just a month ago, Mateo proves his future debate abilities as he questions his mom's reasonings for not allowing him to have a cupcake.
"OK, Linda. Linda, listen, listen, listen," Mateo says in the video.
Since it was posted, the video has gone viral and attained more than 2 million views as viewers can't get enough of the 3-year-old holding his own with his mom.
Mateo first learned his parents' names after they realized the danger Mateo could be in if he didn't know how to find them.
"We came across a lost boy who could not for the life of him tell us his name or parents' names," Linda Beltran told UberSpotlight, The Blaze reported.
"We felt horrible, and as we handed him over to park staff we realized we'd never really told our boys what our names were - they only knew us as Mommy and Daddy. We didn't want them to ever be in the same situation and not know our names, so we taught them, and they quickly learned. This made Mateo feel a little empowered."
And that entitlement shines through in the video. Beltran explains in the video that she had told Mateo he could not have a cupcake, to which he then went and asked grandma for instead. When his mom begins to talk about spanking him and his little brother, Mateo won't have it.
"Linda, honey, honey, look at this, right now we can't do anything if we can't get anything out of the wall," Mateo says.
While some viewers have been taken back by the debate and view it as disrespectful, Beltran explained that she enjoys conversing with her children and even letting them win the debate some times.
"In an effort to raise independent young adults, we let our children have a voice. I'm a new parent and I'm learning as much from my kids as they are learning from me," Beltran said.
"I love seeing a little more of their personalities as they grow. Mateo has his own spunk and is becoming his own little person. I love that about him. The boys know when mom is serious and when they can engage in some healthy debate. In an effort to raise my kids with a voice, I pick my battles and sometimes let them feel like they've won ... or at least give them the chance to try."
Although comments have been blocked from the video, many have expressed their adoration of Mateo on social media.%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D153159%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E